The Chicago Bears received shocking news on Tuesday when center Drew Dalman informed the team he was retiring from the NFL at age 27.
Dalman, who spent just one season with Chicago, signed a three-year, $42 million contract with the Bears last offseason after four years with the Atlanta Falcons. He shored up a center position that had snakebitten the team for years. Dalman, who earned his first Pro Bowl nod, anchored an offensive line that allowed just 25 sacks on quarterback Caleb Williams and a top-three rushing attack that averaged nearly 150 yards per game.
Now, the Bears have a big hole to fill at center. But the good news is this happened before free agency, so it gives Chicago time to find Dalman’s replacement. According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, the Bears have “sniffed around” Baltimore Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum, who’s slated to hit free agency next week.
Linderbaum, a former first-round pick in 2022, has the chance to reset the market at center this offseason. The three-time Pro Bowler is expected to be in high demand, and Chicago will have to deal out a hefty contract to land him. The expectation is he could make up to $20 million per year, which is more than Kansas City’s Creed Humphrey, who currently leads the center market at $18 million per year.
The Bears offensive line, which was one of the league’s best in 2025, now has two spots to fill at center and left tackle with Ozzy Trapilo expected to miss most of the 2026 season. We’ll see if Chicago can make it back-to-back years of landing the top free-agent center on the market.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears interested in top free agent center after Drew Dalman retires
Reporting by Alyssa Barbieri, Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
